Steering-post lock



Filed June 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 17, 1931. F. J. HULL 1,796,930

STEERING POST LOCK Filed June 2l, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y --23 Y .11.11 30 \\\76 l u 25 32, *7 6'2 *f//imwf 11 W/ www" Patented Mar. 117, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOSTER J. HULL, OF HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND, .ASSIGNOR T FAIRCHILD LOCK COR- PORATION, GF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STEERING-POST LOCK Application filed .Tune 21,`

The underwriters provide two different rates for cars, one where the car 1s equipped f with an ordinary lock, and another, a lower rate, for ears which have, in addition to the usual lock, some means for compelling the owner of the car to use -the lock, as the underwriters have found that they have' been required to pay for cars which had been stolen while .left unlocked, which merely means that the owner of the car was obtaining the benefit of the lock rate without actui ally using the lock. The general requirement of the underwriters for the lowest rate is that the locking mechanism 1s so constructedthat it mustbe in the locked ortheft- Figure 1.

resisting position before it is possible to break the ignition circuit of the automobile, their thought being that an owner would he unwilling to leave his engine running to save himself the trouble oflocking the car.

In the drawings:

4Figure 1 is an elevation largely 1n cross section through the center of the steering wheel shaft.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line`22 of Figure 3 is a. top plan view.

Figure +L is a vertical section taken the axis of the main bolt. y

The steering post 10 isv of the usual type within a casing 11 enlarged at its top to form a bowl 12 for the usual three pinion drive 13, these pinions meshing in the customary manner with the annular rack 14, andwith the central pinion on the steering wheel shaft 16 carrying at its'top the hub 17 of the steering wheel 18, the hub fitting on a shoulder of the short shaft 16 and lo-V along 1924. Serial No. 721,522.

cated in place thereon by means ofthe lock nut 19. All the parts so far described` are old and wellknown and no claim is made for them except in combination `with the novel features of the invention.

A spider is permanently 'secured 'to the .steering post casing and carries a plurality of downwardly directed sleeves such as 22 and 23, which serve to guide the bearing plate 25, which carries one or more headed guide rods 26 snugly fitting Within the sleeve or sleeves 22, s0 as to guide the bearing plate in a manner so as to keep its axis constantly co-aXial with the axis of the steering post. This mechanism permits thebearing plate to be moved a limited amount in line with the axis of the steering column, but prevents it from being rotated, so that the bearing plate may Carry a lock to prevent rotation of the steering post shaft 16 or to lielder it inoperative to guide the automo- In the specific embodiment shown,the plunger or bolt of the lock is illustrated as the cylindrical member 28 lying within a bore, in L1 the closed end of which is a spring 30 constantly urging the bolt 28 into engagement with the shaft 16. A manually controlled push pin 31 moves snugly within a groove 32 ofthe bolt and preventsits axial movement while the push pin is in such position. The pin, however is movable against the tension of its spring Sel. inwarfl'ly into such positiva that the arcuate slot in the push pin will vbe in registry with the bolt 28, which will .i151 therefore be shot forward into Contact with the cylindrical surface of the shaft 16, and when such shaft is rotated; this bolt will move into the hole 37 of the shaft 16, which rather snugly fits the bolt 28. Such movement of the bolt positively secures the shaft 16 to the hearing plate 25 andin effect causesthe steering wheel 18 and shaft 16 and the central pinion of the steering rod assembly to move as a unit, this movement being limited to an up and down movement by virtue of the engagement of the guide rod 26 with the sleeve 22.

wWithin the sleeve 23 is a plunger 40 carrying a pair of levers 41 and 42 each mounted on a pivot 43' in the plunger which is movis in unlocked positi'on asL shown.

able With the bearing plate and may be integral therewith it desired. The lever 4l has a lower arm terminating in a toe 44, the upper margin of which is beveled, and when the plunger Vis moved vupwardly .this beveled `surface 4'rides on the upper 'fpreferably sloping Wall 47 of a slot 48 in the Wall ot' the sleeven23, the plunger` itself being slotted as at i49 to jai-low the 'toe to pass Vinto the keeper :slot yin thesleeve. The'leivefr'll'is held With its toe in the keeper bymeansota spring 50 and also by the engageii'ent ofthe short arm 51 oi the lever bythebolt 28 which lies in the path of movement of such Vshort ien-d 5l, 2eilectively preventing-relative Vmovenient 'of Vthe i plunger and sleeve fvvhenithefbolt A lVith the bolt locked, "however, the `plunger-may fre adily be lifted as only l'thespring 50, which lis relatively Weak, prevents such movement. lVhen the plungeriis so moved upWardly,-the

Jspring Apressed paivl end k53m? the lever 42 ridesontlie teethof the rack, 'so that While the plunger can be'raisedi-t cannot belowered without in some Xva'y clisengafg'ing the paivl t rom these teeth.

The ligriition circuit is connected to `the contacts 5i'andf58,each in electrical connection 'ivftli a spring .presse-d .pin 59, "both engaging 'acontact member 60 secured "to :but electrically insulated from the bottom of the pli er 40,thi`s conliguraltion'ten-dirrgto open the rciut `when the plunger is raised land -to vcloset-heignition'circuit Whenltlie plunger is lowered to the position shown in 'Fig'ure-2,

and at which time the springs of the pins59 `\vil` `be compressed and eaclrot th'epins Will be in irm engagement `with theplate 60.

rl`he'operation fi's 'as "follows: The automobile is brought to a 'sito-p and it is vdesired to shutoff the ignition. This kcannot "be done erceptby first flocking the car, which act is accm'nplish'ed by pressing in the pin'l, turningl the key first, then val'l'oiving'the bol'tgto shoot Jmrvvard so that its rear edge clearst-he tip 5l "et the 'lever 4l. The `steer'ii'rg wheel may 'now be lifted to break 'the ig 'ition 'cirei'iit, no key being required for any o'E the acts just outline-d. The driver later returns to the car and'desires to closethe'ignitioncircuik and this 'he does by inserting Aa key into 'the plunger type lock indicatedat lG2, the rotatable cylinder lofav'hich 'carries a cam 6l, circular in Vaxial View, vvhich restoresthe lbol-t 28.

` thus alloving 'the pluiif'ger to 'descendi'nto'pm sition'ivhere the toe 44 Will lockih the keeper slot 48 ot 'the sleeve 23, 'Whichis 'stationary espe'ct to the steering post casing. rllhe ally controlled pin 3l to return to normal pois seated in its keeper slot.

mobile entirely in the hands of the operaton .It Wll be noted that the cylinder ot the lock 62 cannotfbe rotated completely at one time g the turning of the cylinder first releases the lever 42 from the teeth 54, but before it "canberotated'the "remainder of tliewvaly, the steering 'wheel must be lowered, closing the ignitoncircuit, since the end 5l of the lever 41 i'si'nthe path of the bolt 28 until the toe 44 The movement ot the 'shaft 1'6 is not sul'licient to permit the center pinion to lgo out of mesh with thethree planet pinions,so`there is never anyl ditliculty in returning the Wheel to normal driving position.

Vihat I claim is:

l. In a deviceot the character described, a

bolt, a spring for urging said bolt in one direction, means for moving rsaid bolt inthe oppo- Ysitedirection, Aa support for said means and Aa steering ypost casing, yplurality of telescoping members, one of Twhich is carried by said casing, means carried ,by the other ,of said members forlock-ing` a movable part 'ot the steering p'ost assembly, and means Aalso carried by said last mentioned telescopin'g member for making and breaking 'the ignition circuit.

3. In a device ot the character described,

a stationary part ot an automobile, a member mounted for reciprocating' move-ment in Vsaid 'stationary part, an ignition circuit make and break mechanism carried in part by lsaid 'stationary part ot the automobile and in part bysaid movable memoe'r, and abolt rand lock assembly carried by said movable member.

4. In a device of the character described. a steering post casing, a plurality of rguide sleeves secured to said-casing, a plurality oli guide rods 'slidable in said sleeves, 'a bearing plate secured to said guide Vrodss'o as to be movable in a direction parallel 'with .the airis of said casing, a bolt in said bearing Yplate for locking tbesteering post shaft'tothe bearing plate,and means l.vithi'n one of said sleeves for making and breal'fi'ng the ignition circuit.

5. In a device of the character described,

za. steering .post casing, a plurality otguidc sleeves secured to said casing, a plurality ot' Tguide rods slidable in said sleeves, bearing plate secured to saidfgui'de'rods so as to be vmovable "in a directionparallel Withthe airis of 'sai-id casing, a bolt in said bearingplate I for lo'ck'infr 2Jche steering post shaft to Athe ivithdravalot the bolt 28 permits the manu-V bearingplate, and means within one of said sleeves for making and breaking the ignition circuit, and means for preventing relaa plunger movable with said housing, a make and break contact mounted on said plunger for controlling the ignition circuit, meansfor preventing movement of said plunger to break the ignition circuit until said bolt is in locking position.

7. In a device ofthe character described, a spring pressed bolt, a housing for said bolt, a plunger movable with said housing, a make and break contact mounted on said plunger for controlling the ignition circuit, means for preventing movement of said plunger to break the ignition circuit until said bolt is in locking position, and means for retaining said plunger in ignition breaking position.

8. In a device of the character described, a steering postcasing having an internal gear therein, a plurality of pinions meshing with said intern al gear, and a central pinion meshing with each of thepinions before mentioned, a housing, means for locking together said housing and said central pinion, and means movable With said housing and said central pinion for making and breaking the ignition circuit upon movement vof said central pinion and said housing.

9. The combination With a stationary part of anautomobile, of a member having limited movement with respect to said stationary part, a locking device carried thereby, arotatable shaft to be locked byv said device and an ignition circuit make and break mechanism carried in part byfsaid member, and in part by a relatively stationary portion of the automobile.

l0. In a device of the character described, a steering post casing having an internal gear therein, a plurality ofpinions meshing ivith said internal gear, a central pinion meshing with each of said plurality of pinions, a housing, locking means within-sail housing, means for guiding said housing and said locking means so as to cause said central pinion to move in the direction of its axis, means for limiting said movement to prevent said central pinion passing out of mesh with said plurality of piiiions, and means movable with said housing `for making and breaking the ignition circuit.

1l. In a steering post lock, a steering post casing, a steering wheel shaft movable axially with respect to said casing, a member sui'- rounding a portion of said steering Wheel shaft and movable axially therewith, means for locking together said member and said steering ivheel to prevent relative rotation, and means for preventing axial movement of the steering Wheel shaft when at one limit of its travel until the locking means securing respect to said casing, a member surrounding a portion of said steering Wheel and movablcb axially therewith, means for locking together said member and said steering Wheel and means for preventing axial movement of the stee "ing Wheel when at one limit of its traveL until said member and said steering Wheel are locked together.

13. In a steering post lock, a steering post casing, a steering Wheel movable axially With respect to said casing, a member surrounding a portion of said steering Wheel and movable`A axially therewith, means for locking together said member and said steering Wheel and means for preventing axial movement ofthe steering Wheel When at one limit of its travel A. until said member and said steering Wheel are locked together, and for preventing axial movement of said steering Wheel when at the other limit of its axial movementuntil said i steering Wheel is unlocked from said member. 14. In a steering post lock, a plurality of telescoping members one of which is mounted relatively stationary to the automobile frame, an ignition make and break circuit carried in aart b f each of said telesco nino members` a e 2f) f plurality of independently movable springpressed levers, one preventing relative movement of the telescoping members in one direction and the other preventing relative movement of the members in the other direction. and a steering post locking mechanism operating both of said members.

l5. In a device of the character described, a steering Wheel assembly including a 'steering post casing and a steering ivheel rotatably and axially movable relatively thereto, means axially movable with respect to said steering post casing and held against rotation with respect to said casing, an ignition circuit contact carried by said means, ymechanism yieldingly permitting axial movement of said means in one direction relatively to said easing and preventing return movement, and steering post locking mechanism for render ing inoperative said mechanism whereby the steering wheel may be moved to normal dri ving position and thev ignition circuit simultaneously closed.`

'16, In a device of the character described. a steering post, a member axially movable with respect to the steering post, an ignition circuit contact carried by said member, a bolt adapted to engage the shaft ofthev steering' ivheel to prevent rotative movement thereof. and a. mechanism lying in the path of said bolt When-theflatter isfin locking position to prevent movement of said'contact to ircuit closing position.

17. In a device of the character described, `a steering post, a-housing movable axially 'with `respectto thesteeiing post, a Lsteering Wheel shaft rotatably mounted in saitlihou'si'i'ig, "arlsl'idin'g member tor locking said shaft and said rhousing 'again-st Irelative rotation,

Aa cylinder 'lock assembly 'for withdrawing said 'sliding member, apivoted lever:pi'event ing axial n'i'oveinent'oic 'said housingvvithresp'ec't to-tlie steeriiigpost -vvnentne 'latter is at one limit of its travel and means carried bythe locking cylinder for rendering in opertion from either of said slots.

19. In an automobile, an axially movable steering Wheel, 'a'steering post therefor, an ignition system, locking'm'eans foripreveiiting angular' movement of the steering post With respect to the vehicle,ineans for breaking the ignition circuit upon axial movement o'l' the steering Wheel Vand for preventing the closing of the ignition circuit until after the locking means is moved to unlocked position.

20. 'In `a steering post lock forZ automobiles, a pair of members having relative movement, an ignition circuit make and break mechanism operated by such 'relative movement means for locking the ltwo members in one position, and other means -for locking the tivo members in another position.

2l. In an automobile locking device, a bolt, a. spring urging the bolt to-locking position, a trigger tor releasing the bolt-so that it may move under urgeof its spring to locking position, means preventing movement of the bolt-to unlocking position and key operated means holding `the bolt against movement by its spring but operable when the vtrigger is held released to advance the bolt slowly `to locking position.

Y 22. In a coincidental lock, -alocking bolt,v

means for inovingthe bolt to locking position, independentfmeans for moving the locking bolt lroin locked position, a switch controlling the ignition circuit, a'lever held by the locking bolt When the parts are in running position to lock tlie ignition switch against opening.

9.3. In a coincidental lock, a springe-pressed locking bolt, a key operated lock having a cam 'secured thereto, saidicam being circular in axial View and serving to Withdraw the bolt from locking position against the urge ofthe locking bol-tispring, andmeans con- `tr'olledby the position of the bolt for locking the ignitionfcircuit closed When the bolt is'in locking position. I

Y2.4. vIn a :device of the "characterdescribed, a plunger, an ignition circuit adapted to be closed -by movement of the plunger, means Ymovementofthe plunger thereby preventing a breaking of the ignition circuit.

25. In a coincidental lock for anfautomo- 'bile ofthe-type rvin "which the steering Wheel 'hasmovement relative' to thesteering post, an `ignition circuit, -a switch for making and 'breaking said circuit, a locking `bolt'forreii- A'dering 'the 'steering Wheel rinoperative for turning the steering post, Ya member serving in voneposition'to"lock'the switch-to hold the ignition circuit'closedfthe path of the bolt lbeing such that Wlienthe bolt is in inoperativeposition so that the steering `Wheel controlsth'e'steering post, saidinember is 'held in locked position but is released from such locking position upon ymovement of 'the bolt to a position in 'which the'steering'ivlieel rendered inoperative.

26. In "an vautomobile 'locking device, a spring :pressed bolt, a trigger forfholdingjtlie bolt'against movement in vone direction but movable to permit such movement, and key fopei'ated aiie'ans the of vvhicli-'is parallel to the "axis of the bolt =or'holdii'ig-the bolt in 'one position independent of the'trigger and :for 'moi/'ing' the bolt in opposite' direction. 27. `In an automobile locking device,l a-bo'lt,

ta spring urging the bolt to locking position, a trigger normally holding the bolt against movement to `locking posi-tion but manu-ally operable to release the bolt so that it niay moveunder urge of its spring into locking fposition, 'and-*key operated means the a-Xis ot Vwhich isparallel tothe anisof the bolt, said -'key operatedineans holding the bolt against movement by its spring Ato lockingpositon when the .parts are in running posit-ion, beingl Hl #'tl tl t" r0 1t l" tl l lt opciaole ni i ie iiggei o at Vance 1e io to locking position andoperable indepeinl ently of the trigger vtoperniit the bolt 'being released by the triggjer'alone after 'completion ofthe 'operation of the key operated means.

FOSTER J. HULL. 

